Bristol 170 Freighter Mk.21

Bristol 170 Freighter Mk.21

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11/30/2007. Remarks by Dan Shumaker: "G-AIFF was built in 1947 as the prototype Freighter Mk.XI. The square tipped 98 ft (29.87 m) span wing of the Mk.I was replaced by a wing of 108 ft (32.92 m) span with rounded tips, new 14 ft (4.27 m) propellers were fitted, it had an increased fuel load and a 2,500 lb (1,134 kg) increase of the all-up weight to 39,000 lb (17,690 kg). Only two more Mk.XIs were built: G-AIMB, c/n 12792, became SE-BNG with AB Turist-Trafik-Transportflyg of Sweden in August 1947, and G-AIME 12795, a Mk.XIA, became ZS-BVI with South African Suidair, also in August 1947.

In 1948 G-AIFF became the prototype Freighter Mk.21, the 1,675 hp Bristol Hercules 632 fourteen-cylinder two-row air-cooled radials were replaced by Hercules 672 radials of 1,690 hp, bringing the all-up weight to 40,000 lb (18,144 kg).

On May 6, 1949, the aircraft took off from the manufacturers airfield at Filton, near Bristol, for Civil Authorities release trials. After one hour and 7 minutes of flight, while in an extreme yaw condition during single-engined flight test, the fin failed owing to rudder lock. The aircraft crashed into the English Channel, 16 mls (26 km) South of the Portland peninsula, Dorset. Both crew and the five Flight Test Observers were killed."


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11/30/2007. Remarks by Dan Shumaker: "G-AIFF was built in 1947 as the prototype Freighter Mk.XI. The square tipped 98 ft (29.87 m) span wing of the Mk.I was replaced by a wing of 108 ft (32.92 m) span with rounded tips, new 14 ft (4.27 m) propellers were fitted, it had an increased fuel load and a 2,500 lb (1,134 kg) increase of the all-up weight to 39,000 lb (17,690 kg). Only two more Mk.XIs were built: G-AIMB, c/n 12792, became SE-BNG with AB Turist-Trafik-Transportflyg of Sweden in August 1947, and G-AIME 12795, a Mk.XIA, became ZS-BVI with South African Suidair, also in August 1947. In 1948 G-AIFF became the prototype Freighter Mk.21, the 1,675 hp Bristol Hercules 632 fourteen-cylinder two-row air-cooled radials were replaced by Hercules 672 radials of 1,690 hp, bringing the all-up weight to 40,000 lb (18,144 kg). On May 6, 1949, the aircraft took off from the manufacturers airfield at Filton, near Bristol, for Civil Authorities release trials. After one hour and 7 minutes of flight, while in an extreme yaw condition during single-engined flight test, the fin failed owing to rudder lock. The aircraft crashed into the English Channel, 16 mls (26 km) South of the Portland peninsula, Dorset. Both crew and the five Flight Test Observers were killed."